Luke 4
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
Jesus stood up to read in the synagogue. We too have done well to come to church and hear God’s Word.
Have you allowed Jesus to stand up in your life and share God’s Word.
Maybe you can testify that you’ve heard His voice and dedicated your life to Him, but is He still standing in your life and expounding God’s word? Or is it only something of the past.
Jesus unrolled the scroll and shared God’s Word with them. Has He been able to reveal hidden secrets in your life, and reveal God’s Word to you?
Maybe you only go to church to soothe your conscience and please the preacher. But it’s actually a burden to you. And God’s children are also only a burden to you.
Do you know what it is to live in the year of the Lord’s favour? He came to truly bring good news to you, salvation from the oppression of sin. That you can be part of God’s work, that which God is busy doing. That your eyes can see that the best way is to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand, and that it’s the end of self enrichment.
Or do you find that you rather experience a spirit of enmity with the children of God.
Jesus said it’s not what goes into a man that defiles a man but what comes out, the overflow of evil. You might blame your bad friends, but the sin is still planned in your heart before it’s done.
The evil still comes from your heart when you enjoy their company and desire evil.
Jesus knows our thoughts.
Who is Jesus to you? Is Jesus just “Joseph’s son” to you, like these people did not regard Him.
You might be in church and Jesus might still pass you by. As Jesus said that there were many widows in Israel, yet Elijah was not sent to one of them but to a widow of the enemies of Israel. There were also many lepers in Israel, yet only Naaman the Syrian was healed.
Favour with God brings peace. Yes God disciplines His children.
Jesus said to the church at Laodicea:
Rev 3
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Don’t run away from God’s chastisement. As many as He loves He rebukes and chasten.